Stringed-instrument attachment



March 24, 1931. 5 SIEJA STRINGED INSTRUMENT ATTACHMENT Filed June 28;1928 MN QN Patented Mar. 24, 1931 UNITED STATES SZCZEPAN SIEJA, OFCHICAGO, ZLLINOIS STRINGED-INSTRUMENT ATTACHMENT Application filed June28, 1928.

The present invention relates to attachments for violins or otherstringed instruments and has for its main object the provi sion of adevice by means of which a beginner may be taught the proper positionfor the left hand, and more particularly for the left thumb upon theviolin.

A pupil has a tendency to place the thumb upon the finger board,therefore a further object of the present invention is to force thepupil to hold his thumb underneath the neck of the violin and not aroundthe same or above it.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision incombination with the device indicated of physical means for indicatingto the pupil various scale positions on the violin.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of adevice of the character indicated provided with means for attaching thesame to various sizes of the instruments.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of theattachment for the purpose stated which may be cheaply and inexpensivelymanufactured, and which may be preferably stamped out of a blank sheetof metal.

With the above general objects in view and others that will appear asthe nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists inthe novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinaftermore r fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing andpointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing forming a part of this application and in which likedesignating characters refer to corresponding parts thri'mghout theseveral views,

Fig. 1 is a side elevational fragmentary view of the violin, showing theneck portion thereof with the present device attached thereto;

Fig. 2 is across-sectional view on line 22 of Fig. 1 through the neckplate portion of the violin with the present device attached thereto;

Serial No. 288,852.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view on line 44 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an elevational perspective view of i the present attachment;and

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view similar to that of Fig. 4 showing amodified attaching means for the device, whereby the same may beattached to the violin.

' Referring in detail to the present drawing there is shown therein theviolin body indicated by 10, having the usual neck plate 11, neck 12,finger board 13, and peg box 1 f, provided with conventional peg bores15.

The invention, best shown on Fig. 5, includes side plate 16 having theupper edge flaring out as at 17 for the purpose of preventing said platefrom coming in contact with the neck 12 and thus preventing said platefrom scratching the neck of the violin. Integrally formed with andpositioned substantially at the right angle with said plate 16 is aplate 18 which has a curved and outwardly flaring edge 19 so that at oneend said plate 18 fuses with plate 16 while the other end of said plate18 terminates in a triangular lug 20. Cut out from the wider end ofplate 18 and upwardly bent is a lug 21 which remains substantially in.parallel relation with plate 16. At the other end of the device,integrally formed with said plate 16, substantially at a point where oneend of said plate 18 merges with said first named plate is an L-shapedbracket 22, one upright portion of which remains in substantiallyparallel relation with said plate 16. Said plate 16 is further providedwith upwardly extending projection 23 which is on a line with thebracket 22 and reaches. to substantially the same height.

Plate 16 has three outwardly projecting bulges 24 of graduated size. Onthe inside face of plate 16 said bulges form depressions which may beeasily felt by the thumb of the player as the same comes in contact withsaid plate 16. Thus by the size of a given depression the player will beable to ascertain by feeling alone on what scale or position his handrests.

As is apparent one end of plate 16 and the opposite lug 21 are adaptedto engage the neck plate 11, while the other end of plate 16 includingprojection 23 and bracket 22 are adapted to engage the inner end of pegbox 14. In the operative position of the device upon the violin platev18 will be positioned below the neck 12, While plate 16 will bedisposed below said neck 12 and to one 0 side thereof, as clearly seenon Fig. 3. In holding the violin by the left hand the thumb will restbelow neck 12 and will contact with the inner face of plate 16- on theline with depressions formed by bulges 2 1. Portion of the left handwill contact with curve 19" of plate 18, while theother four fingers ofthe left hand will assume the usual position upon the finger board 13.

Since peg box 14 and neck plate 11 are not go of uniform thickness inall violins, a modified attaching means, illustrated on Fig. 6 isprovided. Said attaching means includes a spring plate riveted or inother suitable manner anchoredby its lower end to a por- 25 tion ofbracket 22, as at 26. The upper end of said spring plate 25 carries pin27 which passes through aperture 28,. the inner end of said. pin 27being adapted to engage the adjacent face of peg box 1 1. By thisarrangement incase the peg box is too narrow in order to permit thefrictional engagement therewith of plate 16 and a portion of bracket 22,pin 27 will be adapted to frictionally engage the face of said peg boX14. A similar attaching means may be provided upon lug 21 to engage theadjacent portion of neck plate 11.

While there is described herein a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, it is nevertheless to be understood that minor changes may bemade therein, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim as new is: V

1. An attachment for a stringed musical instrument having a neck, neckplate and peg box, comprising a plate for embracing the lower portion ofthe neck and positioned below the uppersurface of said neck, and meansassociated with said plate for securing the attachment to the neck.

2. An attachment for a stringed musical intrument having a neck, neckplate and peg box, comprising two plates for embracing a 55 side andbottom of said neck, and means associated with said plates for securingthe at tachment to the neck. 7

3. An attachment for a stringed musical instrument having a neck, neckplate and peg box, comprisinga plate for embracing the lower portion ofthe neck and positioned below the upper surface of the neck, said platehaving thumb locating indentations, and means associated with said platefor se- 65 curing the attachment to the neck.

for embracing thelower portion of the neck and positioned below theupper surface of the neck, said plate having means associated therewithfor adjusting its tension about the neck, and other means cooperatingwith the plate for securing it to the neck.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature.

SZCZEPAN SIEJA.

